When Melbourne Heart caught a glimpse of Curtis Good as a raw centre-back at the AIS, they knew they had their hands on something special.

And the local junior, who shone in his debut A-League season in 2010-2011, has traded AAMI Park for the bright lights of an English Capital One Cup final at Wembley – even quicker than Heart expected.

Bradford City’s semi-final triumph (4-3 on aggregate) over Aston Villa is a remarkable story in its own right, invoking the grand old giant-killing spirit of English cup football. Bradford, 10th in League Two, are the first fourth-tier side to progress to a final in 51 years.

But Good’s route to the final is similarly romantic – a 19-year-old catapulted to the bright lights of English football after an impressive debut A-League season.

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Talk about ‘Good’ news stories. Melbourne Heart couldn’t be prouder of their graduate who played 90 minutes at left-back against the Barclays Premier League outfit.

"I jumped off the couch, punched the air as if the Heart had won a game," Heart general manager John Didulica told foxsports.com.au on Wednesday.

"It means a lot to us, to see a kid who hadn’t played a game of A-League before he joined us, be good enough to play in a team good enough to beat Aston Villa for a spot at Wembley.

"We brought him through, so it’s a pretty special moment."

Good shone in his debut A-League season last term, making 25 appearances for Heart, forming a formidable partnership with fellow youngster Brendan Hamill.

Newcastle United snapped him up on a six-year deal, before loaning him out to Bradford City (who have another Aussie - James Meredith - on their books) for experience.

His loan deal is due to expire before the final in February, although there is hoped that the deal will be extended so the A-League graduate can grace Wembley.

While Good’s departure was a blow to Heart, who had locked him up on a long-term deal, Didulica says his success is the best advertisement the club could ask for.

"It was difficult to lose him so soon into his Melbourne Heart career, and we probably didn’t anticipate he’d go to the premiership so soon. But the fact he’s doing there well now is pleasing for us that it’s gone so well for him," he said.

"We want to pride ourselves on (our development of juniors). For young players in Australia, when assessing what club to go to, we want them to know we are prepared to sign them and give them meaningful opportunities.

"It’s one thing to stockpile young players, another thing to have faith in them to make them first XI."

Indeed, Didulica says the "club knew they had a gem early on".

The club identified and brought Good in to train while he was still at the AIS, before introducing him to life in the first team via a trip to Wellington to give him a sniff.

When injury opened the door in the XI, he never looked back.

So what impression did Good leave on the club?

"He’s a very unassuming person – goes about his business, listens to the coach without questioning and is prepared to do what is required for the team," he said.

"The way I see his career playing out he’s almost like buoy – regardless of what level he’s thrown in – Championship, League Cup, international - he’ll always sit on top and float.

"He’s got all the qualities and I’ve got no doubt he’ll be able to compete at that level.

"He’s a superb athlete, really strong, technically so confident on the ball, good in the air: it’s difficult for him to be exposed regardless of the level he’ll be at.

"It’s one thing to piggy-back off a strong team, but another thing to go into a lower side and become a vital cog as they overachieve. It demonstrates how good a player he can be."

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